Goran Dragic to miss another game with knee injury; Hassan Whiteside’s baby’s name revealed
Life without Goran Dragic will continue for the Heat in Friday’s game against the Grizzlies.
The Heat’s starting point guard has been ruled out for the contest because of his troublesome right knee. It marks the second consecutive game Dragic will miss due to the lingering injury.
It’s the same knee that forced him to miss two games in early November and eight consecutive games before returning in last Friday’s win over the Suns. He also missed Saturday’s victory over the Clippers in Los Angeles as a precaution since it was the second night of a back-to-back set, and then knee soreness forced him to sit out Wednesday’s loss to the Jazz.
There wasn’t an X-ray or MRI planned as of Wednesday afternoon, but Dragic’s knee has clearly become an issue. An MRI on the knee returned negative last month.
Stiffness and swelling in the knee have been the biggest issues Dragic has faced with the injury. He had fluid drained from his right knee more than three weeks ago.
“It’s frustrating,” Heat guard Dwyane Wade said Wednesday of Dragic’s knee injury. “It messes with everything, from the standpoint of your family life, what kind of mood you’re in. Obviously, someone special like Goran who loves to play this game, it messes with your confidence. So it messes with you in so many different ways. It sucks. Point-blank, period, it sucks.”
The Heat has posted a 5-8 record in the 13 games Dragic has missed this season (12 because of his right knee issue and one because of a right foot injury).
Finding efficient offense has been a challenge for the Heat without Dragic.
Miami has scored 108.5 points per 100 possessions with Dragic playing and 102.3 points per 100 possessions without him this season. Also, the Heat has outscored opponents by 29 points with Dragic on the court and has been outscored by 65 points when he’s not on the court.
Dragic is averaging 15.3 points on 41.2 percent shooting, to go with 4.9 assists in 14 games this season.
Hassan Whiteside back with team
Center Hassan Whiteside rejoined the Heat in Memphis to play in Friday’s game against the Grizzles. He missed the first four games of Miami’s season-long six-game trip for the birth of his first child.
His son’s name is Jayden Legend Whiteside.
